Assam is poised for a high-stakes political battle as it gears up for the state assembly elections in 2026. The contest in India's politically crucial Northeast will see the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in power since 2016, seeking another term against a regrouping opposition led by the Congress and regional parties. The election for the state's 126-member assembly is set to be a referendum on a range of issues from development and identity to governance and justice.
Emotional Battleground: The Politicisation of Zubeen Garg's Legacy
One of the most emotionally charged issues has emerged around the legacy of beloved singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away in 2025. Merely a month after his death, his memory became a political flashpoint. Both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have been invoking his popular songs and film dialogues to connect with the Assamese electorate on an emotional level.
The Congress has targeted the state government over the probe into the circumstances of his death. In response, the BJP has rolled out a campaign centered on the phrase "Moiu Zubeen, Amiu Zubeen" (I am Zubeen, We are Zubeen) and has intensified the investigation. This move is seen as an attempt by the BJP to project its commitment to justice and to align itself with Assamese cultural identity.
Core Campaign Rhetoric: Infiltration, Congress Record, and 'Vote Chori'
The BJP has placed the issue of making Assam "free from infiltrators" at the forefront of its campaign. Launching the poll campaign in the state in December 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged voters to choose a government that prevents infiltration and fosters development. The party is also focusing on what it calls the "mistakes" of the previous Congress regimes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an event in Guwahati in December, stated that his government was correcting those past errors.
On the other side, the opposition, led by the Congress, has levelled serious allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) against the BJP. They have approached the police, accusing the ruling party of manipulating the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls to influence the voter list unfairly ahead of the elections.
Governance and Land: Floods and Allegations of Land Grab
The Congress is weaponizing the state's perennial flood crisis as a key political tool against the BJP government. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi has accused the state administration of poor planning, delayed relief, and neglect of severely affected regions like the Barak Valley. By highlighting damaged infrastructure and stranded residents, the opposition aims to frame the floods as a stark governance failure.
Another significant issue raised by the opposition is alleged land grabbing. Gaurav Gogoi has launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of neglecting tribal communities and snatching their land to hand it over to corporate entities like the Adani group. Gogoi made these remarks during a tour of the Dima Hasao hill district, claiming locals were ready to stand up against these policies.
The stage is set for a multifaceted electoral contest where development, ethnic identity, social justice, and governance will be intensely debated. With the BJP aiming for a continued mandate and the Congress striving for a comeback, the political discourse in Assam will remain heated until the polls scheduled for March-April 2026.
